Thursday, September 3, 2015

5 Thoughts for September 3, 2015 (All about football)

  1. Today is the official start of college football. Even though FCS played last weekend, we all know that the FBS is the main course that everyone pays attention to (sorry, FCS).
  2. From a west coast perspective, the most important games today are (1) Michigan at Utah and (2) Colorado at Hawaii. Will Harbaugh's return to the NCAA and his alma mater be a successful one, or will the Utes and their solid running back Devontae Booker dominate? Will USC transfer Max Wittek provide the boost that Norm Chow needs to resurrect the Rainbow Warriors' program, or does Colorado's Sefo Liufau connect with Nelson Spruce and put on a spectacular offensive showing? I think Utah and the Warriors win at home. I don't think Harbaugh's team has a quarterback worth talking about, yet, and I don't think Colorado's prepared for the stifling heat, humidity and the stiff rain that successive hurricane fly-bys have created. You think playing in the cold is bad, try playing when it's hot, humid and raining cats and dogs. Of course, the game might be postponed if there's lighting and thunder as there is, today on O'ahu.
  3. Another reason why today is all about football, is because today happens to be the day when all 32 NFL teams play their final preseason game. If you care about players on the fence of making the 53-man regular season roster, you'll care about tonight's games. Philly's got a tough choice to make between Tebow and Barkley as 3rd quarterback, while Seattle still hasn't settled in on cornerback opposite of Sherman, and backup running back is open, now that Turbin appears injured. Will RG III make the roster?
  4. NFL lost its case against Tom Brady, and yet it didn't. The judge never decided on the merits of whether Tom Brady was culpable for participating in ball deflation; the judge said that the Commish didn't have the broad authority to punish Brady with a 4-game suspension. Oddly enough, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said that he would not appeal the $1M fine. If you leave the judgement up to sports writers, they'll tell you that Tom Brady was exonerated, even though he was not. Interestingly, the judge seems to have made a case for overturning USC's penalties stemming from Reggie Bush.
  5. Cheers erupted from USC's fan base, when head coach Steve Sarkisian said that he would be giving up play-calling duties to his offensive coordinator Clay Helton, and instead focus on being the head coach. Helton proved to be exceptionally good at play calling, when he stepped in as interim head coach, for the former interim head coach Ed Orgeron, who'd replaced Lane Kiffin as head coach, all before Steve Sarkisian was hired to be head coach -- all within a span of 4 months. But don't mistake Arkansas State as a weak patsy! Last year they beat Utah State and USU was 10-4 in the Mountain West Conference last year.
+5 Quick Links
  1. ESPN's PAC-12 bloggers' picks for this weekend.
  2. With Wilson signing a long-term contract, it's now safe to buy his number.
  3. ESPN FPI rankings for NFL: Green Bay #1. What?!? Don't they know Jordi's injured?
  4. Fox Sports power rankings for NFL: Seattle #1. Ah, much better.
  5. Seattle not interested in trading Kam? Seattle loses hand, I guess.

No comments: